The North Pacific

The violent storm of water, emotion and spiritual power overwhelmed the Azen Queen but she swam and did her best to remain on course, keeping her eyes only on the crystal, on where Tiara was. She could see it now. Even against the blinding lights, the howling forces, the undying pressure and the shockwaves released, against all that, she swam for Tiara. And when it calmed and when she could, she reached for Tiara.

The storm came once. It returned. But Natalia did not quit. She did not stop. She did not want to fail her lover.

And when it was all done and silent, she reached out with both hands for her dear Tiara. She ignored the death of the colors, the vibrant and happy world that was replaced by singular darkness. All she cared about was Tiara.

Tiara, Tiara, Tiara.

And that was not the voice that she heard. But she recognized it as her own. Natalia could not break now. But her eyes expressed what she couldn't bear to express. Despite that, despite the tears, the Queen shook her head, slapped her hands together and said to herself, firmly as a Queen should, "Tiara, I'm here. Hear me. I am here."

She took the crystal closer to her arms and whispered, "I'm holding you now. You won't drift away. I'll always be here with you..." She then used one free hand to take her own crystal and bring it close to Tiara's crystal. She said, "Now...hush, my dear Tiara, I'm going to sing for you. I'm going to free you. Just be still, okay?"

And slowly, carefully, she activated it, the precious stone glowing gradually as the Azen worked on freeing her while singing,

"...Cold and lonely, you might be now,
Be still and realize I'm here now,
I won't be far at all, "

As she sang, her voice would fill the space of the world, her magic working not only on freeing her from the crystal, from letting her escape but also in changing the world so that the happiness that Natalia felt upon finding and holding Tiara in her arms would be shared. She continued even as her magic was working, her body in peace in the real world while within this one, she was using her mind and soul.

"...My love, my heart is beating now,
The heart which you've saved,
It is beating so strongly and quickly now, "

Natalia then forcefully focused her magic upon the crystal in an attempt to overfill it with her power. She knew, by instinct, by hope, that it might help in freeing Tiara from it. As she did, she sang louder and louder,

"...Be strong for me now,
Be freed from your prison...
Realize and listen to me
Sing my heart out
Listen and realize
As I love you now~"

She started to feel the waters of the world flow away, decreasing in level as she took a deep breath and refocused her magic again on the crystal, singing at her loudest,

"Be strong for me now,
Be freed from your prison...

Realize and listen to me!
As I sing my own heart out
Pouring all my love, my life
All away for you!"

The Azen's crystal was shining so brightly that it was blinding Natalia, forcing her to close her eyes as she embraced the crystal, keeping it close to her breast as she sang,

"As I hold you
I wish you'd hear me
And come out like you should

Forget about the darkness
And remember your very own light

Take back your voice from the chest
That was locked for so long

Realize and listen to me!
As I sing my heart out!
Listen and realize,
That as I hold you,
I'll never let go,
NO, I don't want to let go
Even if I must fade away

Even if you'll love another,
I just want to be with you
For my heart, it is not my own
Because it belongs to you too~!"

She now gasped for breath and fell to her knees in the water, her crystal glowing according to the increasingly rapid beating of her heart. She sang again,

"Realize and listen to me,
Tiara, I love you,
Listen and realize,
That I can't let you go
I can't leave you, no, I can't even live
Without you, I'm nothing!

Realize and listen to me!
Though I'm nobody
And you're suffering
I just want you to know
That if you'll let me love you
You'll always have me with you!"

She stopped suddenly and raised her head and then screamed as she leaned forward, clutching the shard close to her heart as she cried out, "TIARA, COME OUT TO ME! I'M HERE!"

Volkov Malinkov, The Vozhd of the Republic comfortably laid back onto his seat, and slowly drank some vodka from a glass cup. He was returning to Yakuvony after the meeting, and he was quite glad in its results, and was certainly glad about the potential benefits. A few hours later, however, and he noticed something strange.
Yakuvony was quite different from the last time he was there, and after looking through the planes window, he noticed the city of Zheledrov, and the massive skyscraper, which he recognized as the Derov. He also noticed something else. He noticed that there was anti aircraft gun fire in the sky, and with it. Slowly, Volkov realized. The city was in a warzone.

He noticed that buildings were destroyed, and a few taller ones were getting targeted by tanks and soldiers. He noticed that a few villages that were near the city were being burned to the ground, and as he saw large smoke rise through the air, he noticed that a few tanks were firing into the Derov. After a few explosions, and Volkov Malinkov watching with horror; The Derov fell, and collapsed into another building. Causing massive piles of dust to fly into the ground level. The Derov for Volkov was a prime example of the successes of his achievements for Yakuvony. With it, He had thought the Derov would source a simple look for pride and such for the republic, and her people. He thought that people would look at the Derov, and see it as how Yakuvony was a modernized state compared to its neighbors. He had thought he succeeded. But with its collapse, he could do nothing but one thing. Watch. Watch as all his progress gets torn to piles of dust. Watch as all the things he was proud of as the Vozhd of the Republic, fall and collapse.

After the collapse of the Derov, he noticed something else. There was a few soldiers on different buildings, and they flew different flags. Multiple of which, he could barely tell the design, due to how the flag was extremely dark, and it was nighttime. But with it, he could thinly distinguish a eagle on it. He did recognize multiple of the flags flown, which was a plain crimson flag. He could see that the soldiers did see each other, but rather then fire at one another, they just ignored each other. Volkov had no idea of what to think of this.. Suddenly, he heard a massive sound. He noticed that from afar, between the burning villages and blown up houses and building, another tall building be fired upon by tanks, and artillery.
As he watched the building fall, he felt his heart drop. "Their going to destroy everything... Everything I worked so hard on, and tried to use to make Yakuvony benefit.. Their going to destroy it.." Volkov murmured to himself.

He looked away from the plane window. He turned to the right, and looked at his adviser, Muratov. Muratov was his brother by blood. From the runaway of his parents, and the murder of a few policemen, Muratov was far from innocent in his dealings, and he was quite the criminal. Despite that, Muratov was particularly known to have a strong knowledge of politics. Which, when Volkov Malinkov needed a new adviser, after his previous adviser had failed him dearly, Muratov was there for him, and helped him in most situations. No matter on how criminal Muratov was; Volkov needed that political knowledge to run his presidency, and win re-election. Muratov looked at Volkov with a grin. Muratov wore an odd sort of clothes then the regular. From wearing a large round fur Papakha, and a somewhat dirty great coat - This sort of clothes was drastically different from what Volkov had worn, which was a plain business suit, and no hat. If a regular civilian had seen this, they'd think Volkov was talking with a thug.

Volkov instinctively spoke, "Hey... Muratov. You know whats going on in Yakuvony as of late?" Muratov grin slowly dropped and he seemed like he was thinking for a moment, before saying "Of course. You see, Muratov's little.... Well, lets just call them informants, have informed Muratov as of late of whats going on. Apparently, a few revolutionaries took control of a city, and, as you can see - They are fighting for control of this one. Additionally, the other army is not yours. Its actually a army controlled by the Tsar. Muratov believes that he's fighting to unite Yakuvony under a absolute Tsardom. Its quite interesting you see, but there is one issue with both of them..." Volkov stood silent for a moment, before saying, "Can you quiet referring to yourself in third person? Its quite annoying whenever I have to speak to you. But anywho, what's the issue?" "Well, they both want you dead." Muratov plainly spoke. After speaking, immediately, Muratov began laughing. "And you know whats the best part? You could've avoided this. Had you completely trusted Muratov. Muratov has told you plenty of times that you should've gotten rid of the Tsar's guards, and reduced his power. But you chose to ignore Muratov, and plainly said whenever Muratov stuck you into a corner, about something about staying in check with that redundant constitution. Well, let Muratov tell you something plainly. That piece of paper is ought get burned in the tras-" Before Muratov finished, Volkov interrupted by saying, "Oh, shut up" Before Muratov began speaking, he had noticed that his brother looked quite angry at him. Rather then avoid punishment, he plainly spoke, "Oh.. Apologies." Volkov then looked away, and stared down. He was now screwed, and there was no turning back. For all his sins - For all his punishments, and cruelties - He was going to die to some communist scum, or an tsarist dog. He'd wanted to die in his native city - Groska, but that city was far from where his pilot was going to land.

He slouched, and looked down. His previously finely combed hair was now in shambles, and his previous colorful face was pale. The world was against him, and he had no chance of living now. All because he decided to become leader of a nation. Muratov didn't help this feeling, and decided to head into the storage area to grab some alcohol. Suddenly, Volkov had felt an odd feeling. The plane seemed to be falling a little bit faster then normal, and shaking. He looked out the window, and noticed that the wings of the planes were destroyed, and shot off. The plane was now falling. And it was going to crash.

Within a flash of a moment, Malinkov blacked out for a moment. A few moments later, he had woke up with himself looking up towards the ceiling. Towards his right, he could feel a large painful feeling towards it. Upon struggling to look at what was going on with his right hand, he had noticed a piece of glass had stabbed a piece of his hand. Blood was slowly pouring, and he needed to get out of the plane, immediately. As Malinkov struggled to get to his feet, he continued to head forward, until he had reached where the side door was. With his left and abit of his right arm, he struggled to move the wheel, that was locking the door. Until finally, he succeeded, and he saw a massive bunch of snow beginning to fall onto the floor. Additionally, he saw a light near him. He presumed it to be a fire caused by the plane, and began walking out from the hard floor of the plane, to a cold, but soft snow floor. As he walked forward, he noticed a small light from afar. He attempted to walk forward, and forward, but to no avail, as the light slowly became smaller, and smaller. He soon fell onto the floor, exhausted. However, with all his strength he yelled for help. He fell onto the floor, and felt the cold snow freezing his body, and face. He was going to die here. He was going to die by frostbite, and no one would know. Suddenly, he felt a warm hand touch his back, and he suddenly was brought to his feet. He saw that the light was none other then a military convoy for the Republic. He saw Kireyev. His most trusted general be on horse. The soldiers looked grumpy, but they didn't mind seeing the Vozhd.

Within a moment, Kireyev spoke in a thick accent, "Privyet. You look like you seen hell. No matter. I'm glad to see you my Vozhd. But there is an issue." The Vozhd looked at Kireyev . With what was left of his strength, he said, "What is it?" Kireyev said, "I'm sorry Volkov.." Kireyev pulled out his pistol. "But I have to save Yakuvony." Within a moment not too soon, there was a bang. The Vozhd was now on the floor.

Volkov Malinkov was now dead.